56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs A Luke fighter squadron and a former
Ger-man flying squadron pledged to maintain their common heritage Saturday
during an F-16 basic pilots course graduation.
Lt. Gen. Peter Vogler, German Air Force Command commander, and Gen.
John Jumper, Air Combat Command commander, signed the Decree of Honor
cementing the relationship between the 63rd Fighter Squadron and the
Luftwaffe's Cactus Starfighter Squadron during Class 00-IBG graduation.
Luke trained German fighter pilots from 1964 on the F-84 Thunderstreak to
1984 on the F-104 Starfighter.

The Cactus Starfighter Squadron was
formed in 1957 after Germany joined NATO and needed to rebuild its air
force. Each Luftwaffe pilot trained at Luke two years and more than 1,800
Luftwaffe pilots received their training at Luke on the F-104 alone.

Former
Arizona Gov. Jack Williams established the Arizona Cactus Starfighter
Squadron in 1965 to bestow honorary Arizona citizenship on the German pilots
and to acknowlege the ties between the German pilots and their Arizona hosts.

"We needed the help of the U.S. Air
Force and Luke to train our German pilots and get us back

room is the "Starfighter" which displays
photos and memorabilia.

A quote from German Fighter Ace
Gen. Adolf Galland, "Only the spirit of attack, born in a brave heart, will
bring success to any fighter aircraft, no matter how highly developed it may
be," is painted on the briefing room's wall. The Cactus Starfighter Squadron
took this "Spirit of Attack" one step further.

The award is given to the student who has shown the
most dedication to duty, best examples in attitude and flying skills and
embodies the warrior spirit.

The Cactus Starfighter Squadron
keeps the spirit of the F-104 training at Luke alive in other ways such as
reunions, supporting local charities and promoting and financing the Arizona
State University student exchange program.

"I hope the young folks realize
the true meaning of this relationship," Vogler said. "We want the young
generation of fighter pilots to learn from our mistakes. We are proud
of what we are. We are proud of being fighter pilots."Staff Sgt.Aaron Marcus

on our feet during
four decades of the Cold War and the Iron Curtain," Vogler said. "Bombs
didn't only destroy my country, but the selfrespect of the German people.
The American people helped us regain our selfrespect and gave us back our
dignity." The training built a solid foundation for everlasting
friendship between two countries.

"We tend to look at our
differences easily, and we forget how much we are alike," Vogler
said. "It's important ! to keep alive what unites us in spirit, attitude and
objectives."

In 1998, the 56th Fighter Wing
commander accepted a proposal by Vogler, the elected Cactus Starfighter
Squadron commander, to explore the feasibility
of joining the former Starfighter pilots with Luke once again.

After a year
of study, the formal relationship between the 63rd FS and the Cactus
Starfighter Squadron began.

"We join ranks in everlasting friendship as a visible symbol of the strong
bonds between the American and German people," said Lt. Col. Rob Topp, 63rd
FS commander. "Although the 63rd FS never trained German pilots, we have
strong ties because of two brothers currently assigned to the squadron. Maj.
Franz and Capt. Steve Plescha's dad,
Frank Plescha, was an F -104 instructor pilot in the Cactus Starfighter
Squadron."

A display of an F-104 aircraft wing with the German Iron
Cross and signed by Cactus Starfighter Squadron members covers the back